According to The Sun, on March 15 a British Airways flight from Hong Kong to London Heathrow had a female passenger in her 60s die shortly after takeoff. The captain decided to continue the scheduled flight instead of returning to Hong Kong, and the body was placed at the rear of the aircraft. Near landing, some passengers complained of a foul odor coming from the tail area.
The flight, BA32, carried more than 330 passengers from Hong Kong International Airport. The woman died about an hour after takeoff. Sources said that although the deceased's accompanying family members and crew were distraught, because the incident was not considered an emergency the captain chose to continue to the planned destination. When crew discussed how to handle the body, the captain suggested placing it in a lavatory and locking the door, but this was rejected. Ultimately, they wrapped the body in materials and moved it to a galley area at the rear of the aircraft where heated flooring is located.
After about 13.5 hours of flight, some passengers complained of a bad smell from the tail section. The aircraft safely landed at Heathrow, where police boarded to investigate; all passengers were required to remain seated for about 45 minutes before being allowed to disembark. The crew later received company support, but several staff members took leave after being shaken by the incident.
The report did not disclose the deceased's identity or cause of death. British Airways issued a statement expressing condolences to the family, saying staff followed procedures correctly and that support would continue to be provided.
The Mirror cited International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidance saying that if a passenger dies on a flight, the body should be placed in a body bag or covered with blankets and moved to a seat or other location away from passengers; if the flight is full, the body may have to remain in its original seat.
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